The San Francisco Giants’ pitching staff is showing signs of improvement as players return from rehabilitation.The San Francisco Giants’ pitching staff is showing signs of improvement as players return from rehabilitation. Alex Cobb, a right-handed pitcher, had his best performance of the season during a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday night. In five innings, he allowed no runs, two hits, and one walk while striking out four batters. This was his longest start of the season and a significant improvement from his previous four-inning outing. Giants manager Bob Melvin expressed optimism that Cobb could return for the team’s next home game on Friday if he continues to progress without setbacks. Cobb’s return would boost the Giants’ pitching rotation, which has already welcomed back Cy Young winner Blake Snell and is awaiting the return of another Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray. Ray, who has recovered from Tommy John surgery, is expected to start this week. The Giants had initially hoped to have Cobb back sooner, but his rehabilitation was delayed by shoulder soreness. Cobb, who joined the Giants in 2022 and was an All-Star that season, is in the final year of his three-year contract. Prior to joining the Giants, he pitched for the Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and Tampa Bay Rays, where he made his MLB debut in 2011.
It appears the San Francisco Giants pitching staff has gotten healthier as their rehabilitation begins. Alex Cobb had his best performance yet during his rehabilitation on Saturday night.
The right-handed pitcher started for Triple-A Sacramento when the River Cats took on Albuquerque and in his longest start of the season — five innings — he didn’t allow a run. He surrendered two hits, struck out four and walked one. He also threw 60 pitches.
His previous longest outing was the four-inning outing he pitched for San Jose on July 10, where he threw four innings for the Giants’ Class-A affiliate. But he allowed five hits and three runs in that game.
Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters before Cobb’s final rehab start that the team would take Sunday to check in with him and see where his arm is before making any decisions. But he also said Cobb could be back for the Giants’ next home game, which begins Friday, if he continues without incident.
That would be great news for the Giants, who got back Cy Young winner Blake Snell before the All-Star break and have another Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray, waiting in the wings who could start this week as he appears to have fully recovered from Tommy John surgery.
San Francisco had hoped to get Cobb back sooner. He had undergone midseason hip surgery and was expected to miss part of the regular season. But while rehabbing from the surgery, he felt some soreness in his shoulder before throwing a bullpen session on April 16. That put him on the 60-day injured list four days later, keeping him out of the mix until at least late May.
He wasn’t ready for a rehab start until June 30. Saturday’s start was his fifth in the minor leagues.
Cobb joined the Giants in 2022 and was an All-Star last season, going 7-7 with a 3.87 ERA in 28 starts. In his 2022 debut in San Francisco, he went 7-8 with a 3.73 ERA. He is in the final year of his three-year, $28 million deal with the Giants.
Prior to that, he pitched for the Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. He is 77-75 with a 3.85 ERA in his career.
The 36-year-old played for 12 years and made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay in 2011. The Rays drafted him in the fourth round of the 2006 MLB Draft after he graduated from Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida.
